Emma kept her distance from Regina for the next few days. She didn't want to think about the complexities of what she felt for her and felt an obligation to continue on the path she'd chosen. It was pointless changing things now when the future was so uncertain. The wedding would go on. She'd enlisted Ruby to help her with some of the other wedding related tasks. She was also a bridesmaid and was taking her role very seriously. They were sat in Granny's having a catch up.

"Well if you want classical music and ballroom dancing, put your Mom in charge but, if you wanna party like it's 2017 then I'm your girl!"

"I didn't say that Rubes! I'm just saying maybe you and my Mom can work out the playlist together. I mean there's gotta be some balance between modern and medieval right? I can't really see the people of this town getting down to German Hard-core Nu Thrash Techno Metal!" Emma was talking with her hands.

"You do know that what you just said isn't a thing right? But, point taken. I will let Snow pick a couple of songs. Just don't think she's having anything to do with the bachelorette party. That's my gig, bitch!"

Emma laughed in defeat. "Fine! Hey, I'm totally up for a crazy night out with the girls but can we just keep it safe and nothing too embarrassing that I'm going to have to explain to my mother afterwards!"

"No fun!" Ruby mock scolded.

"I mean it Ruby! Or I'm gonna make you wear the most hideous bridesmaid dress that I can find and let's be honest, that can so be achieved in this town!"

Ruby's face lit up and her eyes widened. "Oh my God! I hadn't even thought about our dresses! We totally need to get the rest of the crew together for a shopping spree. There's the shoes and the hair, jewellery and make-up."

Emma looked pained. "Ok. That's it! I'm done! I have no idea what I'm doing here. I don't have to be there for all the bridesmaid stuff do I?"

Ruby slapped her friend's hand playfully. "Yes you do! It's your wedding and you don't want to let any of us upstage you on your big day now, do you?" She pulled out her phone and started texting furiously.

Emma groaned. "What are you doing?"

She typed out the last phrase and hit send. "Just gathering the troops. We are meeting them in half an hour." Ruby smirked.

####

As Ruby and Emma walked up to the dress store, they could see Tink and Regina chatting civilly out front. They had come a long way since Regina's second chance with Robin, friends almost, but there was still a certain distance between them. Tink had been an afterthought as bridesmaid when Ruby had insisted she needed three at least. Hook didn't really have that many friends in Storybrook but Tinkerbell and he had history. Emma still wasn't sure what exactly that history was but she really didn't care. The past was the past. She was tempted to ask Belle but never really felt much of a connection with her and after the fiasco with Regina's evil half and Gold, and Hook kidnapping her God knows how many times, she didn't want to make things any more uncomfortable than they had to be. Ruby was friends with everyone but Regina had trouble getting close to other women. Emma was pretty pleased with herself for her diplomatic and well thought out choices.

"What up sexy ladies!" Ruby shouted then wolf whistled as they approached. "Kudos to Emma for picking the hottest bridesmaids in all the realms, am I right?" And she high-fived Tink.

Regina smiled at the revelry. She was quite fond of Ruby. She never minced her words and everyone, including herself, knew where they stood with her. Her relationship with Tink was also the closest thing to a friendship she'd ever had other than Emma and Maleficent. She didn't tend to get on with women. Probably because of her innate distrust of them due to the damaging relationship she'd had with her mother growing up. But Ruby was right, they were a good looking bunch and they were also people she would be happy to call friends. She did worry about the history between Hook and Tink though. She wasn't sure if Emma knew the whole story and if she did know, whether she'd have been so keen to recruit her. Tink didn't in all honesty look entirely happy about the prospect either but she was smiling through and being pleasant enough, so Regina decided to leave it alone.

As they all huddled into the shop, Emma made an announcement. "So, just so you know, I am not gonna make you all wear matching outfits or anything like that. I want everyone to feel comfortable wearing what they like but I do ask that it at least covers either legs or boobs. . I'm talking to you Ruby! Apart from that, have fun!"

Regina immediately went to the rack with all the black dresses and started flicking through the items.

"Regina, it's Emma's wedding, not her funeral! A bit of color won't kill you!" Ruby sassed and motioned for the older woman to join her on the other side of the store.

Regina caught Emma's eye and they seemed to both be wincing at Ruby's choice of words. She gave Emma the are you alright, look and Emma gave her the it's nothing, don't worry about me, one but Regina could plainly see it had affected her. She nodded back and turned to the rail Ruby had presented her with.

"What about this Emma? It's not too short is it? I can change if you like but I think green is definately my color." Tink was twirling about in a very short, green silk dress.

"It looks great Tink." She responded hardly looking up from the latest maze running game Henry had installed on her phone.

Regina scowled at Tinks choice of dress. "It is not fine! Emma! Quit trying to beat my high score and look at what you were about to sign off on!"

Emma looked up, first at Regina, blushing for being caught out being so competetive and then at Tink.

"Oh, wow! Tink I can see your... I think aim to cover the butt cheeks. That's an accident waiting to happen!"

"Fine. Whatever." Tink huffed as she drew the curtains closed.

Emma looked at Regina with a what the.. expression. Mouth open in disbelief. Regina tried to hide her amusement but failed and they were both bent over silently chuckling and scrambling to get out of the changing rooms. Once outside on the shop floor, the pair bent over, holding each other up in hysterics, tears steaking down their faces from laughing so hard.

"Stop! It's not funny! You were going to let her wear that!" Regina scolded through giggles.

Ruby observed from afar with a knowing smile. She could feel her instincts acutely.

Emma belly laughed and said as quietly as she could manage. "You know, when you made me look at her I was gonna say.."

Regina laughed and shook her head. "Don't! Oh God! Haha was it.." She whispered in Emma's ear, "I can see your bell?"

Emma roared with laughter and Regina dragged her out of the shop conscious of the raucous they were making. Ruby could hear them both still laughing outside. She hadn't heard what was said but it must have been good for Regina to react like that. She grinned to herself. Emma would surely tell her later on.

After they'd composed themselves. They re-entered the shop looking like giddy school girls trying to keep a straight face and randomly failing every so often.

Regina picked out a royal blue dress and Ruby chose a red one. They both made their way to try them on. Tink thankfully had picked out a less obscene number and was now waiting for the others to finish up. Ruby stepped out of the changing room first, adjusting the halter-neck of her tight yet still elegant gown. "Is this ok Em? Not too sexy?"

Emma had put the phone away and was concentrating fiercely on all of her bridesmaids now. She didn't want a repeat fashion faux pas. "Amazing Rubes. Just sexy enough but really demure for you."

"Well I'm a married woman now. I don't want to attract too much attention!" She winked. "Regina, let us see your dress."

"I'm not sure if blue is my color and it's a little too snug in the back." She commented from behind the curtain.

"Just show us already!" Ruby shouted.

She finally came out and scrunched up her face. "I'm not sure it's really me."

Ruby wolf whistled again.

Emma swallowed hard. She had not been prepared for this vision. The dress was a low V cut but classy. There was a touch of black lace embroidered around the top part of the dress that swirled like magic, framing her figure perfectly. The lower half swooped and hugged her ass in just the right way and all Emma could think was how absolutely stunning she really was.

"I.. you... it's... beautiful."

They held each others gaze for the briefest of moments before Emma looked away extremely flustered. "Ok. So if we are all done, I'm gonna wait outside. It's so hot in here, don't you think Ruby? I'm just gonna..." and she was out the door before she could finish her sentence.

Regina pulled back the curtain but not before Ruby had a chance to see the older woman's expression. She mused. That's two for two.